Venezuela election: Chavez and Capriles contest poll

People in Venezuela have voted in what is predicted to be the country's most tightly contested presidential election in a decade.

Left-wing incumbent Hugo Chavez, first elected in 1998, is being challenged by opposition leader Henrique Capriles.

Mr Chavez wants to continue what he calls his socialist revolution while Mr Capriles has promised to restore economic growth.

Almost 19 million Venezuelans are eligible to vote in the election.

Turnout has been high and voting was extended beyond the official closing time of 18:00 (22:30 GMT) at some polling stations where big queues formed.

Mr Chavez - who is seeking a fourth term in office - was diagnosed with cancer last year but says he has now fully recovered.

At the scene

By Sarah GraingerBBC News, Caracas

Long queues had formed at polling stations in Caracas before the sun had risen. One man told me he'd come straight from his night shift to vote. The queues lengthened as the day went on, with many eager to cast their vote in what is likely to be the tightest presidential election race here for over a decade.

Venezuela's computerised voting system is meant to be quick and efficient. But electoral officials say they are prepared to keep some voting centres open if there are still queues at 18:00 local time (22:30 GMT), when the voting is due to stop.

With everyone focused on the elections, the city is extremely quiet, with few cars on the roads. The sale of alcohol is banned during elections but as the day winds up, supporters on both sides will be getting ready to celebrate their possible victory.

As he cast his ballot in Caracas, Mr Chavez said the results of the elections should be respected.

"Let's support the results and let's support the people and let's support this democracy and the Venezuelan republic will continue on its path of growth," he said.

Mr Capriles also voted in Caracas, saying that no matter what the outcome, Mr Chavez was the first person he would call once the results were announced.

A colourful and often controversial figure on the international stage, President Chavez, 58, has nationalised key sectors of the economy.

Venezuela is a major oil producer and high oil prices over the past decade have allowed his government to fund health-care, education programmes and social housing.

He says he needs another term to complete his "Bolivarian Revolution" towards socialism.

However, Mr Capriles, 40, and the opposition say the president's policies have led to bureaucracy, inefficiency and shortages.

They also accuse Mr Chavez of authoritarianism, and of suppressing the judiciary and silencing critics in the media.

Social media

BBC Mundo correspondents in the capital Caracas say Chavez loyalists have been using trumpets to sound a "wake-up" call for voters.

Mr Capriles' supporters were also banging pots in the street in what they called their "goodbye song" for Mr Chavez, our correspondents say.